Hit >> We like the idea of the pedestrian and bicycle bridge over 20th Street, near the Highway 99 ramps and the Chico Mall — particularly since the state is picking up almost all of the $15.5 million tab.

It will help link Chico’s best north-south bike path up to Butte College’s Chico Center and the Skyway eventually.

The bridge will make it safer for cyclists to cross a busy street. Now the city needs to do more to make the paths themselves safer. Some cyclists avoid remote parts, such as near Teichert Ponds or on the north end of the city, because of safety concerns.

Miss >> We and many others share the dismay of Lori Silva, the widow of popular Pleasant Valley High School teacher and coach Brett Silva.

Brett Silva was killed in an automobile accident on Highway 32 between Orland and Hamilton City nearly a year ago.

The California Highway Patrol said at the scene that witnesses reported the other driver, Ramon Barrera Jr. of Arbuckle, was passing in an unsafe manner. A subsequent collision report said Barrera had been under the influence of drugs while driving. Blood and urine tests showed he tested positive for opiates, amphetamine, methamphetamine and cannabinoids.

The report was sent to Glenn County District Attorney Dwayne Stewart in August — and he still hasn’t filed charges.

Meanwhile, the Silva family believes Barrera is in Mexico.

Stewart says he is waiting on more test results before filing charges, but delay is a pattern in Glenn County. We agree with Lori Silva, who says Barrera should have been arrested on the CHP’s recommendation to get him off the roads and in custody until the other test results come back.

No other counties in our area take so long to prosecute fatal accidents. For the victims’ sake, that needs to change.

Hit >> Dramatic tones make organ music among the most stirring of instruments, but in general what’s heard in public now are recordings.

That’s why it’s impressive that Oroville is working to revive a historic Mighty Wurlitzer organ, and is turning to residents and neighbors to help fund this $150,000 project.

The organ being reconstructed inside the State Theatre will turn 90 years old this year. Just seeing the massive organ is breathtaking.

Its parts have storied backgrounds, coming from places like Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille’s home, and landmark theaters throughout the country.

The Mighty Wurlitzers — yes, mighty is part of the name — were installed in theaters to accompany silent movies. Today, there are fewer than 200 theaters in the country with Wurlitzers, according to fans.

When it’s completed — hopefully by April — that will be a celebratory landmark for Oroville and Butte County.

Miss >> Was anyone surprised by the state’s first snowpack survey that found little of it in the Sierra Nevada?

Making the announcement that the snowpack is below average certainly didn’t require the dog and pony show of hauling the media, government officials and others up to see what wasn’t there. Talk about an unnecessary carbon footprint.

What was also disturbing was that instead of a cautionary alert that Californians may want to start thinking about conservation, the Department of Water Resources said it was too early to draw conclusions. When public and private forecasters say it’s likely going to be drier than normal with a La Nina pattern, we’d think conservation would be a good message, especially when we have different levels of dedication in California.

We prefer the “Let’s be ahead of the curve” on water conservation message, rather than the state’s “It’s still early.”